Sox beat the Reds

The local nine enjoys their return home, a few Patriots items and opinions offered up, and preparations for this weekend’s US Open make up the sports headlines in Boston this morning.

The Red Sox got back home and back to business last night, dispatching the Cincinnati Reds 10-3 at Fenway Park. Nick Cafardo looks at the Red Sox handling business at home. Jeff Horrigan writes that the Red Sox found a comfort zone between the Pesky and newly named Fisk foul poles. Steven Krasner observes that the Red Sox should find some comfort in knowing that they will be will be playing more games at home the rest of the season. Jeff Goldberg writes that the Red Sox took advantage of the gifts handed them by the Reds to win the game. Andy Vogt looks at the Red Sox pounding on Eric Milton and getting a strong outing from Matt Clement.

Before last night’s game, the left field foul pole was officially named Fisk Pole, after Carlton Fisk’s dramatic game winning home run in the 1975 World Series. Lenny Megliola reports on the brief ceremony prior to the game. Alex Speier says that the Red Sox “enshrined a moment last night of mixed significance” last night. Marvin Pave and Rich Thompson also report on the newest addition of nostalgia to Fenway Park. It was also the main subject of Goldberg’s notebook.

Jackie MacMullan looks at a strong bounceback outing from Matt Clement, who had struggled in his previous start, but stifled the Reds last night and posted a season high nine strikeouts. She includes an exchange with Ken Griffey Jr, who didn’t see any improvement in Clement over last season. Paul Kenyon says that Clement’s strikeout of Griffey in the fourth was the key point of the game. Howard Bryant has a couple of the Reds in awe of the Wall. Kevin McNamara says that Wrigley field is baseball ultimate frat house. Bryant also has a Subscription Column in which he says that by June 30th, we should have a pretty good idea of the AL East, as the Orioles haven’t played as well against sub-.500 clubs, something that the Red Sox traditionally have done well. This two week stretch should tell us a lot about the clubs and their staying power, according to Bryant. Pave also has a piece on Johnny Damon, who remains red-hot despite a sore foot, which will have him in a soft cast for a few days.

Cafardo’s notebook looks at a long day for Jason Varitek, as the Red Sox didn’t get into town until 2:45 AM, and then his third daughter was born at 4:04 AM. Horrigan’s notebook looks at Brad Mills stepping in for Terry Francona last night. The Projo notebook has more on Damon’s injury and several other items.

Dan Pires has a good article this morning on new Patriot receiver David Terrell, who joins the team with a chip on his shoulder – and that appears to be a good thing. Last night on FSNE, Michael Felger and Alan Greenberg talked a bit about the receivers, neither is that high on Terrell, who they thought looked slow at minicamp and didn’t run clean routes. Greenberg is big on second year man P.K. Sam, and Felger believes that Bethel Johnson might not even make the team this year. Pires’ article closes with more on Richard Seymour and his situation. Mike Reiss reports on Seymour’s appearance that the Patriots Golf event yesterday. Michael O’Connor also has a short report on that topic. Gerry Callahan (subscription only) says that Seymour has gone about things the wrong way. He’s been doing things this the Terrell Owens way, which isn’t smart.

There was the right way to do this, and the T.O. way. Unfortunately, Seymour went the T.O. route. He could have been smart and tactful and won the support of fans and media without putting Belichick on the spot. He could have told the media, in a casual, offseason setting, that he just loves it here in New England, that he wants to play here for the rest of his career. But life in the NFL is short. A guy has to look out for his family and his future.

Walking off the job only helps one kind of disgruntled athlete: the kind who wants to keep on walking. This could be an exit strategy, a way to force Belichick to move him to another team.

Callahan says that the Patriots would be dumb to trade Seymour, and they just don’t do dumb things. This media sitdown idea was something Callahan was pushing to Steve Burton, who filled in for John Dennis yesterday. He was urging Burton to get Seymour on “Sports Final” and do the above. Eric McHugh has a piece on Tedy Bruschi and how he is in career limbo, but he is not out of the loop, as he has been a mental and verbal participant the Patriots offseason activities. O’Connor’s notebook looks at Tom Brady pretty much playing the role of a coach on offense, how Doug Flutie is learning to plays as his backup and Troy Brown wishing Ty Law well.

Peter May looks at time getting urgent for the Pistons. Bill Reynolds looks at Sports Illustrated’s story on the And1 basketball tour.

Lenny Megliola looks at Boston College making preparations to make the leap to the ACC next season.

Bill Griffith previews coverage of this week’s US Open, which will be all over ESPN. He also looks at the comings and goings at NESN and has a few other notes.